By:Joe Ephraim, Calabar
The Cross River State Government, in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and other development partners, has flagged off the “Wise Up” integrated healthcare services for adolescents and young people at the Calabar Christmas Village.
The initiative, tagged the Wise Up Carnival Calabar Campaign, commenced on December 1, 2025, and will run throughout activities of the 32-day Calabar Festival.
It is designed to promote responsible decision-making and expand access to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) services for young people and carnival revellers.
The campaign provides free integrated health services, including HIV testing and counselling, family planning, screening for tuberculosis, malaria, hepatitis, hypertension and diabetes, basic medical consultations, health education, gender-based violence (GBV) counselling and referrals, as well as condom distribution with sexually transmitted infection (STI) information.
Flagging off the campaign, Governor of Cross River State, Senator Bassey Otu, represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, assured partners of the State Government’s commitment to taking full ownership of the Wise Up initiative. He commended UNFPA for sustaining the campaign over the past eight years.
Dr. Ayuk announced plans by the State Government to establish a Partners’ Complex at the Essential Drugs premises along Barracks Road, Calabar, to improve coordination and provide a conducive environment for development partners delivering health and humanitarian services.
He disclosed that the government is planning to remodel the current AHF building and name it after the late Dr. Ifeanyi Udenkwo, while part of the Essential Drugs building would be converted into a Partners’ Complex, subject to the Governor’s approval.
The Commissioner also revealed plans to host a dinner for development partners in the first quarter of 2026 to showcase their contributions and strengthen collaboration. He noted that much of the progress recorded in the health sector since the administration assumed office was driven by partner support.
He called on other development partners to participate more actively in subsequent editions of the campaign and assured that the State Government would expand the initiative to cover Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and other critical health areas.
In his welcome remarks, the Director-General of the Cross River State Agency for the Control of AIDS (CR-SACA) and Chief Host, Dr. Charles Iwara, described the Wise Up Carnival Campaign as a strategic platform for addressing youth health challenges, particularly during the festive season.
Dr. Iwara emphasized the importance of integrated service delivery amid dwindling donor funding and stressed the need for government ownership. He acknowledged the support of partners and appreciated Governor Bassey Otu and his wife, Bishop Eyoanwan Otu, for their consistent backing of HIV response activities in the State.
Speaking, the Head of Office, UNFPA Cross River State, Dr. Andrew Kirima, said the campaign was designed to leverage the annual influx of young people into the State during the carnival period to promote safer behaviours and access to essential health services.
Dr. Kirima commended the State Government for assuming leadership of the campaign and expressed confidence in its sustainability beyond donor funding. He noted that the 2025 Carnival, marking its 20th anniversary, presents an expanded opportunity for youth engagement.
In separate goodwill messages, the World Health Organization (WHO) Representative, Dr. Gloria Archibong, pledged continued support, while representatives of MSI Nigeria and AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) reaffirmed their commitment to providing family planning services and other health interventions for the campaign.
Also speaking, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Nursing, Mr. Coco-Bassey Esu, described the initiative as an annual opportunity for service to young people and called for increased support from partners.
Earlier, the Coordinator of the Wise Up Campaign, Mr. Obase Okanke, conducted a tour of the facility for the Commissioner and partners and appealed to relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies to create dedicated budget lines to sustain and institutionalize the initiative.
